Dining Divas and Dudes: The joys of Kimchi in West Lafayette

Join Dining Divas and Dudes for a trip to Kimchi Korean restaurant in West Lafayette.

• Thanks to sponsor Stuart & Branigin for ongoing support of the Based in Lafayette reporting project.

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Today’s menu: Welcome back to a feature that debuted here in April. Dining Divas and Dudes is a team that has been reporting and rating new restaurants, hidden gems, international fare and updated menus from old favorites for years now at homeofpurdue.com. Here at Based in Lafayette, we’ll feature some of Dining Divas and Dudes’ best and most recent finds. The Divas and Dudes are: Tetia Lee, Kay Conner, Linda Eales, Iseral Quintero, Margy Deverall, Jerry Hunley, Whitney McBell, Jo Wade and Ken McCammon.

Today, Dining Divas and Dudes take on Kimchi Korean restaurant in West Lafayette.

DINING DIVAS AND DUDES: THE JOYS OF KIMCHI

By Kay Conner / Dining Divas and Dudes

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Holy Mackerel! Dining Divas and Dudes tried out the Korean restaurant Kimchi, and that was the unanimous conclusion about the quality and quantity of the food. OK, so it was really Jo’s remark about the fish she got, which happened to be a mackerel that filled up the whole plate, but I digress.

Kimchi, located at 1904 Sagamore Parkway West in West Lafayette, where Baja Peninsula and several other restaurants have been in the past, has been adopted by the international community as a place to get authentic Korean cuisine in a comfortable setting. When we arrived at 11:30 am, we were able to find a table for seven, which included Ken McCammon, the most recent addition to the DDD’s, but by the time we left, there were people waiting to be seated.

We started with two pancakes from the appetizer menu: Seafood and Kimchi. They graciously prepared the Kimchi pancake vegan at our request. These are not your mother’s pancakes; they are large crispy discs of savory deliciousness, the seafood cooked perfectly and the Kimchi pleasantly spicy — a spectacular way to start a meal, praised by all.  

Some of us would have been satisfied with just the pancakes, but we didn’t stop there. Kimchi has a wide array of soups, rice and noodle dishes, meat plates and lunch boxes.  

Meals are accompanied by small side dishes called BanChan, traditionally eaten with rice. Our selection included six small bowls of spicy bean sprouts, plain bean sprouts, sesame broccoli, chili pickled radish, fish cake and kimchi. All good, but the radish stole the show. 

 Soon after the BanChan arrived, piping hot meals appeared, almost lost in the steam.  

Jerry had Bulgogi Udon, marinated beef with noodles, with lots of spice. Jerry loved the accompanying vegetables, and Jerry always cleans his plate.

Jo sampled the pancakes, but feasted on her Holy Mackerel, thrilled that it was grilled, not breaded. It was fishy, in a nice way, and great with the chili sauce.

Tetia loved the texture of her Silky Tofu Stew with Beef. The spice level was perfect for her, traditionally prepared, and peppery. Tetia is the only DDD who had eaten at Kimchi before and has favorite dishes, but tried something new and wasn’t disappointed.

Kay was impressed with the size and heat (both temperature and spice) of the Spicy Seafood Bibimbap. Prepared in a stone dish, replete with whole shrimp, mussels, octopi, calamari strips and a fried egg on top. A bonus if you dig down, the rice at the bottom is caramelized, crispy and yummy.

Margy raved about the Kimchi Pancake and pickled radish in chili sauce. She’s coming back just for those. She ordered Soybean Paste Stew, found it a bit salty, but adding white rice tamed the saltiness and made it more stew-like. She also had a report from home: “I ate my leftover kimchi pancake for dinner. It was as good cold as it was warm at lunch.” She’s also investigating making her own pickled radish in chili sauce at home.

The Dining Divas and Dudes on the Kimchi assignment in West Lafayette (clockwise from left): Jo Wade, Kay Conner, Linda Eales, Ken McCammon, Tetia Lee, Jerry Hunley and Margy Deverall. (Photo: Dining Divas and Dudes)

Ken and Linda ordered lunch boxes. They are lunch specials and come with several compartments with different treats. Linda had chicken teriyaki and Ken had bulgogi, which was a little sweet, a little spicy, and the vegetables were a good complement. Both were impressed by the vegetable-filled fried dumplings.

Take your appetite with you when you visit Kimchi and you won’t be disappointed.  Delicious made-to-order Korean food, big portions, and friendly, helpful staff.

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Look for occasional features from Dining Divas and Dudes in Based in Lafayette. For more reviews and local attractions visit www.homeofpurdue.com/blog/

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OTHER READS …

• With former Purdue coach Gene Keady heading into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, the recollections about his fiery influence on the court and steady loyalty off the court came together in a couple of pieces worth your time. Here’s one from J&C reporter Sam King: “As Gene Keady enters Hall of Fame, former Purdue basketball coach's impact remains on game.” Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel had this nice deep dive: “Only Purdue's Gene Keady, Hall of Famer, could tame IU's Bob Knight on, off court.” And Indianapolis Star reporter Zach Osterman has Michigan State coach Tom Izzo telling a few tales: “Tom Izzo wrote Gene Keady Hall of Fame endorsement: 'One of the icons in our profession.'"

  

• Prosecutors gave more details of the killing of Jordan Loveall in charges filed against David Trevino and Adrian Suarez, two Texas men tied to the shooting death during what police said was a drug deal turned into a robbery. Journal & Courier reporter Ron Wilkins had this account: “Murder suspects also charged with conspiracy to commit robbery.”

• Child care and early education are huge issues for Greater Lafayette and beyond. Indiana Capital Chronicle reporter Casey Smith opened coverage of a legislative hearing this week this way: “Rising concerns over a lack of affordable and accessible child care in Indiana bubbled up at the Statehouse Wednesday, prompting calls for new statewide policies that would make it easier for additional care providers to open — without breaking the bank for families.” For the stakes laid out Wednesday, here’s Smith’s report: “State lawmakers weigh ongoing child care ‘deserts’ across Indiana.” For a local looks at the issue, check this June headline: “West Lafayette, schools put Happy Hollow in mix for child care options.”

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Thanks, again, to Stuart & Branigin for sponsorship help with today’s edition.

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Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com. Like and follow Based in Lafayette on Facebook: Based in Lafayette